Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Bobby Labonte will miss Richmond race; Allmendinger to fill in

Team press release

2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will not race the No. 47
BUSH'S Beans Toyota Camry this weekend at Richmond International Raceway after
suffering three broken ribs in a cycling accident near his Trinity, N.C. home on
the morning of Wednesday, August 28.

“I am feeling a lot better, but I
don’t want to put the race team in any compromising position this weekend,” said
Labonte. “It just makes more sense to focus on my rehab one more week to ensure
that I’m ready to go at Chicago (Chicagoland Speedway) with no issues. I plan
to be back with the team then and back behind the wheel.”

AJ Allmendinger
is filling in for Labonte during the Federated Auto Parts 400 in Richmond,
Va.

"Bobby means a lot to the JTG Daugherty Racing team and to our
sport," Allmendinger said. "For me, it's a tough situation. I do not want to get
more races with the team because someone is injured. Bobby is a guy that I
believe is a Hall of Famer and he is a champion. It's tough to have that type of
injury. Hopefully, he gets better as soon as possible to get back into the No.
47 BUSH'S Beans Toyota."

"We are all wishing Bobby a speedy recovery and
look forward to having him back," crew chief Brian Burns said.